The match with Spirit Hall Academy had concluded, and next came the battle between the Emperor Team and New Godwind Academy.
Jun Tianlin's arrogant remarks had greatly angered the members of Spirit Hall Academy.
"Hmph, I just want to see what Jun Tianlin is truly capable of. First, he says my goddess isn't as beautiful as others, and now he dares to belittle the geniuses of our golden generation. Ugh!"
Hearing the sneers from his fellow students, Xie Yue responded coldly "Shut up. You're not qualified to mock Jun Tianlin."
Though Xie Yue disliked Jun, he saw him as the only opponent worthy of respect in this competition. What right did those who weren't even on the main team have to judge him?
Hu Liena didn't object. Compared to the still impulsive Yan, Xie Yue and Hu Liena had clearly matured in temperament.
The seven members of the Spirit Hall Academy team stood silently. In the square before the Pope's Palace, the two opposing teams faced each other.
Jun Tianlin and Yu Tianheng stood at the front of the Emperor Team. Seeing familiar faces in the opposing lineup, a trace of confusion appeared in Jun's eyes.
In the original novel, Huo Wu had sought to defeat Tang San, but Jun couldn't understand why she was doing the same now.
Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wu, and Huo Wushuang—the core of the Godwind Team—stood ready.
Huo Wu stepped forward and addressed Jun from a distance "Sword Lord, do you know why we're doing this?"
"It's to prove the strength of our Blazing Fire Clan and to have a fair duel with a powerful opponent like you."
Jun Tianlin's voice was calm but cutting "Ever since you relied on other academies to reach the finals and agreed to become someone else's pawn, you've lost all dignity. You've sent team after team to challenge me, just to probe my strength. If that's what you want—fine. Watch closely."
"Both sides prepare! The match begins!" the referee announced
The New Godwind Academy team activated their spirit possessions.
At the front, the strongest among them—Feng Xiaotian and Feng Moheng—began preparing their self-created soul skills: the Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes of the Wind Demon Wolf and the Wind Sword Technique.
Behind them, Huo Wu, supported by two auxiliary soul masters, began channeling power into her fourth soul skill, *Fire Dance Brilliantly*. She activated her innate talent—Ring Fusion—and poured the power of her other soul rings into one, pushing her attack to its peak.
Facing the Emperor Team, they knew they had to go all out.
But something unexpected happened. The Emperor Team made no preparations. No martial spirits were released. The six other members simply stood at the edge of the arena.
They were clearly sending a message: *We're just here to watch*
"What's the meaning of this?!" Huo Wu asked furiously. Their behavior was beyond disrespect
Jun Tianlin remained still, eyes closed "Didn't I say I'd use my true strength? I'm not underestimating you—I'm taking this seriously. Take it."
He opened his eyes. Flames flickered in his gaze as a mental force vast as the sea surged forward.
Feng Xiaotian's attack halted mid-sequence. Feng Moheng's Wind Shield dissolved. Huo Wu's fused soul rings shattered on the spot
"Ugh!!"
All seven members of the Godwind Team collapsed, one by one
"Referee, you may call it" Jun said as he turned to leave "Let's go, everyone. The match is over."
The referee rushed over to examine the fallen competitors, then exclaimed in shock "They've all fainted—knocked out by a mental shock!"
"But how? He didn't even release his martial spirit. He just looked at them!"
The entire arena was stunned. Everyone knew Jun was strong—but this strong?
Those who had mocked him earlier were silenced. Hu Liena could charm six people with a glance—but Jun had taken down seven with one.
"This mental power... Soul Emperor level? No, it surpasses even that!" Chrysanthemum Douluo, observing from the Pope's Palace, was shaken "This isn't power a mere Soul King should have. Even Soul Saints would be cautious against it."
What terrified him more was the fact that Jun's mental pressure was not at its peak—he couldn't even see where the limit lay.
"Haha! That's the look I love—humans trembling in fear!" Tian Meng laughed smugly "Hu Liena dared flaunt her 50,000-year spiritual skull? Hah! Did she think the million-year skull I gave Xiaotian was for show?"
"To face Jun Tianlin, we'll need to use our full power" Xie Yue said seriously
Earlier, they'd shown off a bit to shock the Emperor Team—but Jun had retaliated with something far stronger, and he hadn't even released his martial spirit.
"Agreed. Only the charm demon has a chance" Hu Liena replied. She turned to the golden-scepter-wielding soul master, Xu Yu "Xu Yu, it's up to you now. Only your fourth soul skill can restrain Jun Tianlin."
Xu Yu nodded, honored "Rest assured, Miss Hu Liena. When we face the Emperor Team in the finals, even if I exhaust all my strength, I will stop Jun Tianlin!"
"Thank you for the win" Hu Liena said with a smile
She wasn't flustered. In fact, she hadn't used her full strength against Tianshui earlier. She could charm seven with a glance if she wanted.
In the original story, Tang Hao had said that after absorbing the spiritual skull, Tang San's spiritual power rivaled a full-fledged soul master, even though he hadn't yet reached level 50.
Hu Liena's spiritual mastery was not far behind. Though more control-oriented and less aggressive, she believed she could withstand Jun's shockwaves.
With the match concluded, the top five teams had emerged: Spirit Hall Academy, Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Shrek Academy, Thunder Academy, and Star Luo Royal Academy.
Tomorrow, Spirit Hall Academy, as the top seed, would rest, while the remaining four would battle it out to determine the top three